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6 - The Oakville Beaver, W ed ne sd ay, F e b ru a ry 5, 2003 EDITORIALS AND LETTERS TUB IHKUIM M i l 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS Office M anager JILL DAVIS Editor in C hief MARK DILLS Production M anager KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director STEVE CROZIER Circulation Director ROD JERRED M anaging Editor Mrtiotand PmOng PtCtettng 4 OtstrlwOno Ltd . ndudes AfivPlckwino New. M fisD ts*. AAflon NerttVCourer, AflU r Enterprise Nwra ftwrm AOsgnoc Barry's Boy Thii Week. Holton Enterprise, Brampton Guardian Btfimgton Post. Buringtcn Shopping New*. C«y P ren t a*rgwood/Wa6aga Connection, fast ttx* U kra E r r M tx a W Z a s tty Routes. Ftobicoka Guardian. Fttmtoorcwofi Post, Georgetown MapendenVActon Free Press. Hamster* Review, Huron* Busmeas Timet. Kngston The W e *. U n d a y T t * Week. M aiW wn Economist & Sun. MKtandPenetangiMhvie M rra Milton Canadian Oiampcn. Mlton Sreppng News M esssauja Busnees Tinas. M s s s s a u p News. Napartee Guide NowmarVet/Aurora Fra-Banner Northumberland News Nortfi V o * M n a , Oakvde Beaver OakvUe Shopping News OWhmers Hockey News. O n to today OrfiawftWuttyQamolnn Port Pwry Ths Wtotfc. Owen Soin d Tnbune, Palmerston Obaenwr Fyiefborough Tbs W m * . Pcton Couofr Gude. R m n o rd HVThom biAAu^iv) UberaJ, Scarborough M rra StoJM aU tfindge Triune. Former 'ibung. City at *jrk Guardon THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: THE » l : T 1 f « H V Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association YMCA O 0 JTtticna U zylwarth JXwunl Onki'H B R O N X * Naimr For llto O S e s ? (*C N A Canadian Community Newspapers Association |o a k v llle galleries | B cJiF u n d The OcfcviAe. Mftcn and Owtrtct SK Suburban Newspapers of America FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE 1 ° ' f es=gaf NR08 tafc»W* Extend the deadline ; Hallon residents have until this [Friday to com m ent on Halton R egion's plans to expand the MidHalton Sew age Treatment Plant. Last spring, the region completed a [Water and W astewater Servicing [Master Plan. That plan establishes the Oakville sewage plant as the region's preferred method for dealing with sewage resulting from growth, and calls for the plant to eventually grow to more than three times its current J>ize. While full expansion isn't expected [until 2031. the first expansion to increase the plant by about 50 per cent is expected to take place before 2006. Unfortunately, while several public .meetings have been held since last ,Iune, many people are only now patching on to the full implications o f this expansion. Last w eek, O akville R egional Councillors Kevin Flynn and Allan Elgar sponsored a public information meeting on the proposed expansion. The meeting attracted more than 120 concerned residents. While the meeting also dealt with the issue o f algae on the Lake Ontario shoreline, the majority o f the people in attendance were there to hear about the sewage treatment expansion. The fact that 120 people attended the meeting shows there is a lot o f interest about this subject in the community. However, many o f those in atten dance. including councillors Flynn and Elgar felt Friday's deadline should be extended to allow more time for public comment. W hile no one can accuse the Region o f trying to rush this through -- the Mid-Halton plant was pegged to serv ice m ost o f the growth in north Oakville and Halton back in 1995 -- we believe they should extend the deadline. Elgar has suggested the deadline be extended for another 90 days. W hile this would push back the Region's plans to present a report to councillors in March, we don't believe this would cause a major delay in the project. Keep in mind the first phase o f the expansion isn't scheduled until 2006. In the interest o f maintaining public confidence in the project, the region should consider altering the deadline to encourage additional com m ents from concerned residents. The delay would demonstrate to taxpayers that their concerns are an important part o f the planning process. It would also give the Region more time to address issues. Without com menting on the pros and cons o f the Mid-Halton Sewage Treatment Expansion, w e b elieve what is needed at this point is a brief delay in the process. letter Oakvillegreen takes LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Castor defends interchange issue with sewage plant Region to lead site search for process ui the w eek for Halton emergency shelter: chair As Chairman of Halton Region and Chairman of the Emergency Housing Advisory Group, I am writing in Response to your Jan. 26 editorial entitled Region must take the next step. The Advisory Group worked very hard to bring forward recommendations ithat reflected our community. 1 was [extremely pleased that council consid ered the advice of local citizens and "approved the Advisory Group report and recommendations. The issue of where to locate and oper ate an emergency shelter in Oakville will continue to require public input and while the report provides guidelines, pro ductive citizen discussion and debate will continue to occur during the site location process. With this report we have the tools we need to respond to the sugges tions and concerns that will arise when a new site is chosen. The recommendation approved by council that gives Halton Region the mandate to purchase the land will give greater assurance that all the criteria from the Advisory Group report will be met. We are committed to growing public confidence in the location and operation of this facility. It is now up to the Region to take the next step and we will lead the site search process. Finding a site for an emergency shel ter is not just about a building, but about meeting the needs of our citizens who may require temporary shelter within their own community. Communities are a reflection of how they treat all their citizens. In Halton we continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for everyone, through good times and in bad. At the end of the day. there is no doubt that local people need our help and this report is one step in the process of trying to provide that help today and in the future. I would like to once again thank the members of the Advisory Group, region al staff and the public for their continuing contribution to the process. Finally, I would like to thank the Oakville Beaver for its participation in the process and for contributing to this important debate. Through your cover age of the public meetings to some thought-provoking editorials, you have helped to raise awareness of the needs of the homeless in Halton and the need for emergency shelter. JOYCE SAVOLINE CHAIRMAN HALTON REGION Naturalists' Club says thanks for support The South Peel Naturalists' Club Wishes to thank the many residents of .Oakville who attended the Ontario Municipal Board pre-hearing for OPA 198 on Monday, Jan. 20 at Town Hall in Oakville and vigorously demonstrated their support for us to speak against the urban sprawl that threatens to engulf the area of Oakville, north of Dundas St. (Hwy. 5). After careful consideration, we have chosen to seek · " participant" rather than ``party" status at the hearings. We believe we can best state our case in this role. We will focus our energies on gather ing data and preparing a report to support the preservation of natural features north of Dundas. We encourage the people of Oakville to attend as many of the O M B hearings as possible in order to stay informed and to support the many local citizens' groups that are fighting for " smarter growth." DON MORRISON PRESIDENT, SOUTH PEEL NATURALISTS' CLUB Here's an idea for you. You know all that growth that's planned for north Oakville, Milton and the Halton Hills- 401 corridor? Let's take all the sewage that will be generated from all that growth and bring it to Oakville! In fact, let's bring it all to the sewage plant in the Glen Abbey area, where thousands of people live nearby. O f course the plant will have to increase its processing capacity by over 4(X) per cent to handle all of this extra sewage, so it will grow much, much bigger. Odours will increase too. but no one knows how much. And. by the way. we'll continue to get our drink ing water from Lake Ontario, where the vast amounts of treated wastewater will be dumped. But wait, there's more. Guess who gets to help pay for all this? You guessed it, it's you and me. Estimates show our water bills will increase substantially (some say up to 50 per cent) in the coming years to help pay for this cost of growth. Believe it or not. Halton Region is currently considering the above plan. What do you think of it? Is such a mega sewage plant desirable or even safe? If better technology exists (Zenon comes to mind) why isn't it being seriously considered? Are all of the alternatives on the table? The worst pan is that just as we're beginning to find out about this plan, the period for public comment comes to an end on Friday, Feb. 7. Please, don't let this opportunity to comment pass by. E-mail the Region and ask that the peri od for public comment be extended so that we have more time to ensure that the best option for the residents of Oakville is the one chosen. E-mail David Ohashi, Region of Halton Manager Special projects at ohashid@region.halton.on.ca or fax him at 905 825-0267 and cc Councillor Allan Elgar at aelgar@sympatico.ca and Councillor Kevin Flynn at kflynn@town.oakville.on.ca so they can continue to moni tor resident concerns. And visit Oakvillegreen's Web site at www.ottkvillegreen.com for more details. IRIS MCGEE. OAKVILLEGREEN R e c o g n iz e th o s e w h o m a k e life c o m fo rta b le On the way to Montreal one can see a sign on a fence that reads: " If you ate today, thank a farmer." Not only should we thank a farmer, but all the people who provide us with our comfort on a daily basis. In par ticular, tnick drivers, restaurant staff, medical doctors and practitioners, hospital workers and volunteers of all kinds. The efforts and work of all of these people working quiet ly in the background may not be noticed, but make life so comfortable for all of us. May the new year reward all of these people in ample ways. LOUIS M. VAN MONSJOU Re: The QEW/Third Line interchange expansion. I'd like to respond to the letter to the editor from Brian Hopkins (the Beaver. Jan. 22) where he takes issue with my comments regarding this project Early in January, I was honoured to be a part of the launch team for the QEW/Third Line Interchange Expansion. The interchange expansion is a well-supported, environmentally conscious decision. It's the right thing to do. The interchange expansion will reduce traffic jams. The Third Line interchange services Oakville's residential and commercial communities north and south of the QEW, and is cunently inadequate. Long waits, with vehicles idling up to 10 minutes to just get through the bypass, has become the norm. The interchange expansion will reduce air pollution. An average car produces 2.4 kilograms of Co2 for every litre of gas used*. Fewer idling vehicles means less Co2 produced. Co2 is the major contributor to the increase in the buildup of greenhouse gases. Improvement to the interchange is about less air pollution for the Oakville residents. The interchange expansion will provide public transit options. On the south side of the Q EW is the Bronte GO station, which is underutilized. The new interchange will decrease the time to get to and from the station, making it more convenient for the commuter. Also, with the changes, Oakville U ansit will be able to provide efficient service into the station, as there will be fewer delays. The widening of the Q EW is a provincial initiative. Oakville is a partner. No, we do not want more traffic. But we do want to manage the traffic we have more effectively. The QEW, from Ford through to Third Line is a parking lot every evening dur ing rush hour leading to smog, air pollution, aggressive driving etc. Regarding Neyagawa. this is a major arterial road that serv ices the residents of north Oakville -- predominately the resi dents of River Oaks. The road moves the residents through the area without having to use local streets within the community. A number of years ago, when the 403 (now the 407) was being planned, Oakville council realized the existing interchanges at Trafalgar Road and Bronte Road would not meet demand. The location of the interchange was negotiated with the province. Without the Neyagawa interchange, the traffic pressures on Trafalgar Road, Dundas Street and Bronte Road would have left the north part of Oakville in gridlock. As for " a freeway through the heart of Halton?" There has been a regional plan for a number of years to join Neyagawa with the James Snow Parkway and the 401. W ill it occur? Time will tell. However, the redevelopment of the Third Line/QEW inter change is a great project for Oakville. I stand by my comments. JANICE CASTOR LOCAL COUNCILLOR - WARD 5 OAKVILLE * Natural Resources Canada, Idling Wastes Fuel, Pud By STEVE NEASE Contributes to Climate Change. We welcome your letters The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters w ill be edited for clarity, length, legal considera tions and grammar. In order to be published, letters must con tain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville, On., L6 K 3S4, or via email to editor@oakvillebeaver.eom. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish any let ter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Could St. Suite 206. Toronto. Ont.. MSB 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of adver tising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or dedine.